After going 9-3-1 during a month of pressure-packed games, intensified by a shortened season with heightened expectations, the Blueshirts yesterday were allowed a day of perspective heading into today’s regular-season finale against the Devils at the Garden.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, the Rangers weren’t preparing for what could be considered a must-win game.

“I think they need to step back just for a second or two and say, ‘You know what? We did what we wanted to do,’ ” coach John Tortorella said after yesterday’s practice. “It was a grind, but now let’s get our last game and see if we can keep climbing and then we’ll see where we go come playoff time.”

One year after finishing as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Rangers are guaranteed to open the playoffs on the road, on Tuesday or Wednesday, but they may not know until as late as tomorrow night if they play in Pittsburgh, Boston, Montreal or Washington.

The Rangers don’t want to finish lower than the seventh seed. The No. 8 seed likely will face Pittsburgh in the first round and the Rangers are 1-3-1 against the Penguins this season.

After the Islanders (55 points) lost last night in a shootout, the Rangers (54 points) need at least one point to avoid the eighth seed since they hold the tiebreaker over their rivals.